RUSH, LOCAL LEADERS CALL ON ILLINOIS STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE PREMATURE CLOSURE OF METRO SOUTH MEDICAL CENTER

BLUE ISLAND, ILL. — Thursday, Oct. 10, U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), joined by state and local leaders, as well medical professionals and union representatives, called on Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to investigate Quorum Health Corporation’s premature closure of Metro South Medical Center.

On June 11, 2019, Quorum filed a discontinuation application for exemption with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, announcing that they planned to suspend services in various departments at MetroSouth and ultimately changed their date of closure from Friday, Nov. 1, to Monday, Sept. 30th. On Sept. 26, the hospital discharged its last patient and closed its doors. However, this decision to close prior to receiving approval from the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board is prohibited pursuant to Illinois State Law (77 Ill. Adm. Codes 1130.525 (a)). 

“Quorum’s decision to close MetroSouth before receiving approval from the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board is not only an affront to the members of my district who depend on this hospital, but it is also a clear violation of State Law,” said Rep. Rush. “It is my hope that by taking this action, we will inform other health corporations that boarding up hospitals outside of state regulations will not be tolerated in my District and certainly not in the State of Illinois. The hardworking citizens that we represent deserve better and as their elected officials, we expect nothing less.”

MetroSouth is a 314-bed, acute care hospital with a blend of private and semi-private rooms, employed 800 doctors, nurses, and other professionals, and serviced over 70,000 patients each year. Metro South has served the residents of the South Suburbs since 1905 under a number of different names and owners.  In 2008, then named, St. Francis Hospital was facing significant financial difficulties and closure was pending. However, the commitment of the elected officials, together with that of the hospital leadership, led to the hospital being purchased by MSMC Investors in 2008 and subsequently by Quorum in 2012. 

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